Mark Carney's appointment as governor of the Bank of England has been generally welcomed by the media, but there is one worrying aspect. Last week, before the announcement, we were assured the post was to be filled for a fixed eight-year term, thus at the very least introducing a much-needed element of stability to the way we run vital elements of our economy. Instead, we are told that "he rejected the Treasury's stipulation that the new governor serve for a single eight-year term in favour of a contract that runs for only five years" (Osborne drafts in Canadian to lead Bank of England and City regulation, 27 November). So, one of the oldest complaints about the causes of our economic failures, that of short-termism, seems confirmed as being essential to our wellbeing by the new man before he has even been confirmed in office.Peter HarrisLewes, East Sussex

• Canada's Globe and Mail (26 November) says Mark Carney's successor in Canada will face "a long list of thorny problems": The Canadian economy has shifted to slower growth (expected to be less than 1% annualised in the third quarter); a correction is underway in the housing market; household debts are at record levels; and unemployment is 7.4%. Quite an achievement for a country super-rich in natural resources. Perhaps there is a clue here as to why he changed his mind about leaving Canada to take the governor's job (Editorial, 27 November)?Rod LoganWalton-on-Thames, Surrey

•Mark Carney follows the journey of so many US officials who have moved from high-ranking jobs in the banking sector straight into government. "Hank" Paulson, US treasury secretary during the banking crisis in 2006, was CEO of Goldman Sachs, as was Robert Rubin, who was treasury secretary from 1995 to 1999. Alan Greenspan, who was the longest serving chair of the Federal Reserve, had previously been managing director at the Wall Street investment bank Brown Brothers Harriman. The list is even bigger when those on the Federal Reserve board and in less senior positions at the US treasury are included. Is this not evidence of the quiet coup of the bankers taking over key arms of government? Far from being an "outsider", would it not be more correct to call Carney an "insider"?Barry KushnerLiverpool

• Who let George Osborne have a say in choosing the next governor of the Bank of England? What next – EL James to chair the Booker jury?David MarcerGloucester

• George Osborne was reported on the radio on Monday to consider Mark Carney as the best person in the world for this job. Is this the same George Osborne who recommended Andy Coulson as the PM's communications chief?Graham BrownShrewsbury, Shropshire

• Does Larry Elliott know something about Mark Carney that we don't (A Sven for Threadneedle Street?, 27 November)? If the new governor is the Sven-Göran Eriksson of banking, this spells bad news for the faltering economy.Les BrightExeter, Devon